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“Not soon enough.”

“Diana!”

“Yes, I know. We are not supposed to speak of him that way, especially after what happened with mother. I cannot help it. I do not like him.”

“I can count on one hand the number of poor souls that do, but that does not signify.”

“Samantha, you used to enjoy such comments as that. What has gotten into you?”

“I do not know,” she sighed. “Perhaps I am at last growing up.”

“Is that to suggest that I am not?”

“No, of course not. Di, I do not mean to be difficult. This is simply…”

“A lot to have happen all at once. I know the feeling, you know, given that I was in your position not too long ago.”

“You are right. I should listen to you. Then again, with how much you do not want me to go through with this, I have to ask you something.”

“Ask away.”

“Are you happy?”

Diana seemed to sit in thought for a moment, and Samantha worried that she had overstepped. They seemed happy together, but with how against Diana was for Samantha to marry, she had to be sure.

“I have never been happier in all my life,” Diana sighed. “It feels selfish to say that because the happiest time of my life used to be when Mama was still with us, but now, it is a different sort of happiness. I have an adoring husband and our beautiful children, and you are not too far away, and I no longer have to see our father if I do not wish to. It is strange, and I never saw myself being happy as a wife, but there is no other word for it. It has been the greatest time of my life being a duchess and mother.”

“Then why do you not want that for me?”

“I do! You are misunderstanding me, that is all. I want you to have everything in your life that you could possibly want and more, but I want that to be on your terms and at the right time. This, being blackmailed into marrying a stranger over a mistake you made, is neither of those things.”

“Well, this is how it is.”

“And you seem to have accepted that which is why I will no longer mention it unless you ask me to.”

“But you are not happy for me?”

“I am concerned, that is all. You need someone in your life to be, and Father is all too happy to have you off of his hands. I want to be sure that this man will treat you well because after the lives we have had with Father…”

“I know. We both deserve more than we were given.”

The two of them shared a look for a moment. For all that had happened to them, they had done what they could, and Diana had truly made something of herself. Samantha longed to as well, even if it meant marrying a stranger that she, quite frankly, did not like all too much.

“Perhaps I should meet him before the wedding?” Diana asked. “Then I can see for myself that he is a good man and will care for you.”

“He shall be here later today. He is wanting to look at the marriage contract. You can meet him then if you wish.”

“Heavens, no!” Diana said quickly. “No, that would not be the right time at all. We shall invite the two of you to dinner instead. Would you not prefer that?”

“It would give me an evening out of here,” she agreed. “Very well. I shall inform him today.”

“Wonderful. We shall have an invitation sent.”

Diana then seemed to hastily leave, as if she truly did not wish to cross paths with the Duke by mistake. Samantha furrowed her brows at her as she left, wondering what her issue with him was beyond him being engaged to her younger sister. Samantha had at least been cordial with Diana’s husband, and with him originally wishing to marry her, she thought that was fair.

She shook her head at herself. He did not wish to; he simply wanted to rescue one of the Earl of Colton’s poor daughters, and Diana had been more willing than she had. At least in their case, they had fallen truly in love with one another, and even though Samantha knew she would not have that herself, she knew not to be too greedy. The Duke of Gloryfield was not a monster, she did not think so at least, and so he would be good enough.

A young lady of her background bordering on spinsterhood and risking ruin could not hope for anything more at least.